Marvel vs Capcom 3

The fighting genre got a breath of fresh air over two years ago when Capcom released Street Fighter IV. It was for the first time a game that gave us a reason to talk about the fighting genre again. Now two years later Capcom has released the latest in their Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of the Two Worlds that hopes to recapture some of the magic. Does the game have what it takes? Read our full review to find out.

Gameplay

The hype surrounding MvC3 has been immense. The series has created a following and for obvious reasons. Outside of the obvious appeal of having Marvel and Capcom characters the Gameplay from the past games is one of great pace and action. So after the long wait can the game make good on its potential?

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Screenshot

So let’s get into the meat of the game the Gameplay. To start with the roster for MvC3 is one of the games strongest attributes. The developers did an excellent job of not only selecting the stand out characters from both sets but also some of the less known but widely entertaining ones from both rosters. Fans of both Marvel and Capcom will have a good selection of fighters at there disposal but like any fighting game will quickly find a favorite.

Unlike past MvC3 games you can see instantly that this game was developed for the console rather then being ported over. This is shown from switching from the two punch and two kick button controls to a light, medium, and heavy attack followed with a special button. It’s a simple tweak but one that makes the controls feel less like a poor excuse for an arcade cabinet to something that actually works on the consoles. There is a new “simple” mode that is designed to give newcomers an easy way to get into the series. However even for me a rather inexperienced MvC3 player it seems out of place and unnecessary.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Screenshot

There are some more minor tweaks to the fighting but for the most part this is still a very familiar 3 on 3 fighting game that provides a ton of enjoyment whether playing by yourself or with friends. To me I have always enjoyed this series for its less complex approach and that still holds true. However my big gripe with MvC3 is its lack of depth in the modes category. You have a training mode, a short mission mode, and online play and that’s it. In this day and age of $60 titles this is inexcusable. All in all you have a great playing fighting game that is seriously lacking with ways to enjoy it.

Graphics

For me the visual style of MvC3 is one of its greatest strengths but I can see there being some serious opposition to that statement. Capcom has gone away from its roots and provided us with a much brighter and detailed fighting experience. One thing that has remained is the great use of color both in the environments and characters. The game just pops off the screen and not in a cheesy 3D way. One thing I did want to mention to is that the game visually remains pretty impressive online. Capcom has been working to improve their net code on fighting games and you can see that with MvC3 as it looks and plays extremely smooth online.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Screenshot

Fun Factor

It’s been a while since I had played a Marvel vs. Capcom title and I am sure Capcom is aware that is the case for many gamers. Thus I can understand the rationale for having a more approachable MvC3 and for me it worked. Although I am not a huge fan of their simple mode I did enjoy the approachability of the game as a whole. Sure you’re still going to need to learn combos, and understand matchups if your going to compete online. However for me the game has always been best when you get a few friends around a TV screen and just battle it out and that remains true in MvC3.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Screenshot

Overall

My only real problem with MvC3 is that there is really no meat on what proves to be an amazing bone. However for most the lack of modes won’t prove to be a huge miss as the rest of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is pretty incredible. The fighting is fast and entertaining, the visual style is bright and well detailed, and the roster doesn’t leave any major gaps. All in all if you’re a fan of the series this is a worthy addition and one you should pick up.

Joel Szerlip

The owner and editor-in-chief of Darkstation.com. I've been apart of the website since 2002 and purchased the website in 2010. Owning and running Darkstation is a dream come true. I love video games and I love writing and talking about them even more.

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